The Province of Ontario has formally designated the Crawford Nickel Project as the second initiative in its One Project, One Process framework, intended to streamline major mining approvals by synchronizing timelines and data sharing across provincial ministries. This recognition reflects Crawford’s advanced permitting status: the Project submitted Canada’s first Impact Statement under the amended Impact Assessment Act in November 2024, was referred to the federal Major Projects Office in November 2025 and now benefits from a single coordinated review. Canada Nickel will engage directly with Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce’s office and relevant regulatory bodies, reducing duplicative reviews and targeting construction commencement by year-end 2026.

Crawford is projected to be the largest nickel sulphide operation in the Western world, with independent analysis forecasting over $70 billion in GDP contribution across its initial 40+ year mine life—approximately $67 billion accruing to Ontario—and supporting 1,000 direct plus 3,000 indirect and induced jobs. The Project’s patented In-Process Tailings Carbonation technology is expected to sequester up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, positioning Crawford as one of Canada’s largest carbon storage facilities and the world’s first net-zero carbon nickel mine. Provincial estimates anticipate 4,000 permanent roles in mining and downstream processing once the integrated sulphide mine, processing plant and alloy production facility are operational.

Canada Nickel reaffirms that the 1P1P framework complements existing commitments to Indigenous Nations consultations, environmental stewardship and stringent regulatory standards. The Company has undertaken comprehensive dialogues with local First Nations and Métis communities throughout the Timmins-Cochrane region, maintaining impact benefit agreements and ecosystem monitoring programs. All development phases will adhere to federal and provincial resource management protocols, with quarterly progress reports to stakeholders and ongoing third-party audits of environmental and social performance.

With the framework designation secured, Canada Nickel plans to finalize detailed engineering in Q2 2026 and award major equipment contracts by Q3 2026. Construction financing discussions are underway with a syndicate of domestic and export credit agencies, targeting a debt-to-equity ratio in line with comparable global critical mineral projects. The Province’s newly announced Critical Minerals Processing Fund may provide co-investment for the downstream facility. Canada Nickel aims to reach financial close by Q4 2026, enabling earthworks to begin immediately and supporting the Company’s broader strategy to expand the Timmins Nickel District pipeline, including advancing the Reid and other neighbouring sulphide targets.